The American Automobile Association (AAA) is pushing a measure that would make Florida’s safety belt law a primary offense and permit traffic stops. Currently, motorists can only be cited for a seat belt violation if they have been pulled over for a traffic infraction.

Supporters of the measure estimate it would save 142 lives and prevent 2,019 injuries caused by Florida traffic accidents in the first year alone. The law also would make the state eligible for $46.1 million in federal incentives.

The National Highway Traffic and Safety Administration reports the nationwide seat belt compliance rate sat at 82 percent in 2007. But state-by-state compliance varied widely, from 64 percent in New Hampshire to 98 percent in Hawaii. States with primary enforcement laws enjoyed greater compliance, according to the statistics.

Florida ranks right in the middle in terms of its compliance rate, which has increased this decade, from 69.5 percent in 2001 to 79.1 in 2007. Nationally, it ranks 26 of the 50 states.

Florida lawmakers also plan to tackle the issue of distracted drivers with a number of potential laws addressing everything from cellphone use by teen drivers to text messaging.

Jay Anderson, a retired Fort Myers-area paramedic and founder of Stay Alive … Just Drive supports a ban on the use of cellphones and text messaging by all drivers. Known as Heather’s Law, the proposal is named for a Florida girl killed in a 10-car pileup caused by a truck driver who was allegedly text messaging.

If adopted, Anderson said Florida would join five other states that ban cell phone use by drivers, including New York, New Jersey, Connecticut, Washington, California and Washington, D.C.